PRESIDENT ROH: (As translated.) Good afternoon. I just had a
very constructive and meaningful meeting with President Bush. Today's
meeting is my fifth meeting with President Bush. The last time was five
months ago, in June. Since this is his first visit to Korea during my
administration, it gives me particular pleasure to welcome him to Korea,
along with all the people of Korea.

At this meeting, we were able to reaffirm that the Korea-U.S.
alliance, based on the common values of democracy and market economy, is
strong and that it is developing into a comprehensive, dynamic and
mutually beneficial alliance. We also agreed that the Korea-U.S.
alliance will continue to contribute to peace and stability in the
region. Furthermore, we were able to reaffirm that most of the major
issues related to our alliance are progressing smoothly, and that the
agreed points are being implemented faithfully.

For the remaining issues, we agreed that they would be resolved in
close consultation with each other, to benefit both sides, based on
mutual respect and the spirit of our alliance. President Bush and I
agreed to launch a ministerial level strategic dialogue to conduct
in-depth consultations on the future direction of our alliance and other
far-ranging issues.

With regard to the North Korea nuclear issue, we reiterated that a
nuclear-armed North Korea will not be tolerated, and reaffirmed that the
issue should be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic means. In
order to implement the September 19th joint statement of the six-party
talks, Korea and the U.S. agreed to work closely together. We
especially felt that the second phase of the fifth round of six-party
talks should be held as soon as possible in order to find a breakthrough
in resolving the nuclear issue.

Furthermore, we had a sincere dialogue about building a peace
structure on the Korea Peninsula. Going beyond the resolution of the
North Korea issue, we both felt that a strong peace structure must be in
place in order not only to reduce tensions, but also build permanent
peace and trust, in order to create a new future for the Korea
Peninsula.

It gives me particular pleasure to be able to welcome President
Bush to Gyeongju, the capital city of the Silla dynasty, and the city
more than 1,000 years old. I hope this will be an occasion for him to
experience firsthand the beauty of Korea's fall weather and our
beautiful culture. I also hope that Mr. and Mrs. Bush will come to
better understand the history and culture of Korea. I hope you will
have a wonderful visit. Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President, thank you. Mr. President, thank
you very much. You do have a beautiful country. And we've got a strong
relationship. We've got a good personal relationship, and our countries
are bound together by common values and our deep desire for freedom and
peace. Thank you very much for your hospitality. I've really been
looking forward to my second trip to your wonderful country.

I told the President during our discussions that I felt like the
ties between our two countries has never been better. In a relationship
like ours, there's obviously complexities. But the important thing is
to work together to solve those complexities in a spirit of friendship.
And secondly, I know how important our relationship is to help promote
stability in this part of the world.

Yesterday I gave a speech in Kyoto where I, with all sincerity,
praised the great progress of your country, Mr. President. You have
shown how economic prosperity and political freedom go hand in hand for
the good of the people. And as we helicoptered in from Busan today,
it's very clear that the economic prosperity of this part of the world
is very strong. And so is the political freedom.

We did have a wide-ranging discussion. We talked, of course, about
the North Korean issue. We talked about the need to make sure that we
continue to strategize through this -- five of us who are working with
North Korea to get North Korea to implement that which it said it would
do, which is to verifiably get rid of its nuclear weapons and programs.
It's in the world's interest that this happen. It's also in our
interest that we continue to work together to solve the problem.

I see a peninsula one day that is united and at peace. And that's
a vision, Mr. President, that I know you share, as well. And that's a
-- it's the right vision. There's a -- there's a real possibility that
by working together, at some point in time the peninsula will be united
and at peace. And I want to appreciate that vision of yours, sir.

We also talked about our bilateral relations. Well, let me --
first, I want to thank the President and the people of this wonderful
country for sending more than 3,000 troops to Iraq to help that
democracy flourish. And it's a -- to me, it's not only a gesture of
friendship, but it's a gesture of understanding that a democracy in the
heart of the Middle East will help bring peace to others. And I thank
you for your leadership, Mr. President, not only in -- on the troops,
but as well as providing assistance to both Iraq and Afghanistan. We're
bound by our love of freedom. And those commitments by your government
indicate how close we are in terms of promoting the values of freedom
and democracy.

I also want to thank you very much for your help for the victims of
Hurricane Katrina. That meant a lot to our people. It was very
generous of you, Mr. President, to do just that.

We talked about our working together on -- make sure that the world
is a world that trades freely and fairly, that -- appreciate the
President's leadership at the upcoming APEC summit, where I'm hopeful
that all of us will join together in promoting a successful Doha Round
at the WTO, with the understanding it's in our nation's interests that
we have free and fair trade, but it's in the interests of developing
nations that there be free and fair trade. The World Bank estimated
that hundreds of millions of people will be lifted out of poverty if
this round goes forward. And I know you share the same concern I share
about poverty in the world, Mr. President.

At some point in time I look forward to continuing our bilateral
trade relations. At the appropriate time, our governments will come
together and discuss how to further trade for the benefit of both
countries.

Finally, Mr. President, I look forward to continuing to work with
you to promote a foundation for peace and freedom, whether it be here on
the peninsula, or around this globe. And I know I've got a good partner
in peace and freedom when I have discussions with you. So thanks for
your hospitality. Really gracious of you to have -- make time for a
bilateral meeting in the midst of all your planning for the APEC summit.
And Laura and I are just thrilled to be here. Thank you.

PRESIDENT ROH: Next we will have a question-and-answer session.
We will take four questions in all.

Q First, I have a question to President Roh -- actually, I have
two questions. By holding early inter-Korean summit meeting, some
people are saying that this could help to resolve the nuclear issue of
North Korea. With regard to where and how the second Korean summit
meeting, the government has said that it is not an issue as to where the
meeting will be held. And I would like to ask your position on that.
And second, through your summit meeting today, you have said that the
Korea-U.S. alliance is very strong, indeed. But some people are seeing
-- since your administration took office we are seeing cracks in the
alliance. I would like to hear your opinion on this issue, as well,
please.

PRESIDENT ROH: Yes, thank you very much for that question. As for
a second inter-Korean summit meeting, the Korean government has always
said that it is open to the possibility of a second inter-Korean summit
meeting, and we wish to meet again with the leader of North Korea. But
North Korea will probably have its own strategies. The North Korean
nuclear issue has to be resolved and I'm not sure whether North Korea
thinks that it would be beneficial for them to meet with South Korea
before or after the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issues. I
think that this is probably something that North Korea will have to
judge and decide. This is the status that we are at right now.

And in this situation, Korea -- if we just look at the second
inter-Korean summit meeting and the holding of that meeting, itself, as
something that has a very important outcome, I really don't think that
this will help North Korea's nuclear issue to be resolved. Of course,
it's important that we meet, but what's more important is the content of
the meeting, what we can agree upon and what we can resolve through an
inter-Korean summit meeting. So I don't think that we should hold a
summit meeting just for the sake of holding a summit meeting. We need
to very sincerely consult this issue and think it over as to the content
of the meeting.

And the second question was about the Korea-U.S. alliance, and I
know that many people are saying many things about this alliance. I
know that perspectives can differ according to the angle that they take.
I'd like to ask you back a question, actually. Since the Korean War,
Korea and the United States have held various talks and we are currently
in the process of handling many, many issues and resolving many issues.
And I'd like to ask, when was a time where you had more issues solved
and more issues discussed?

We're talking about realignment of the U.S. forces in Korea; we're
talking about strategic flexibility; we're talking about deployment of
Korean troops to Iraq. We're looking at the relocation of the Yongsan
Garrison. Many issues are being dealt with now. These are very heavy
items to be discussing in terms of my politics, and it is sometimes a
political burden for us to be discussing these issues at one time. But
we are happy doing this for the past two or so years, and most of these
issues have been resolved very well.

I'd like to ask you to think about the past administrations and
think about this administration in comparison with them. We are in very
smooth and open communication with the United States. And for
inter-Korean relations, as well, this is probably the most stable
situation between the two Koreas that you have ever seen, and the
Korea-U.S. dialogue is going on very smoothly, and we are reaching very
high-level agreements, as well. And this is an interactive dialogue
that we are having. It's a two-way dialogue where we engage in dialogue
very seriously and voice all of our opinions and discuss them. And we
think that this is an area where we are having these open communications
between Korea and the United States, and we are able to confirm this
open communication in our meeting, as well.

The Korea-U.S. alliance is in a very good stage and I do believe
that it will continue to become even better. And I think that our frank
discussions between President Bush and myself, and also among our
officials, as well, will leave a foundation for even stronger ties
between Korea and the United States and the Korea-U.S. alliance to grow
even further.

Next we'd like to have a United States journalist ask a question to
President Bush. Please go ahead with your question.

Q Mr. President, Vice President Cheney called it reprehensible
for critics to question how you took the country to war, but Senator
Hagel says it's patriotic to ask those kinds of questions. Who do you
think is right?

PRESIDENT BUSH: The Vice President.

Q Why?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, look, ours is a country where people ought
to be able to disagree, and I expect there to be criticism. But when
Democrats say that I deliberately misled the Congress and the people,
that's irresponsible. They looked at the same intelligence I did, and
they voted -- many of them voted to support the decision I made. It's
irresponsible to use politics. This is serious business making --
winning this war. But it's irresponsible to do what they've done. So I
agree with the Vice President.

Q -- (inaudible) --

PRESIDENT BUSH: I think people ought to be allowed to ask
questions. It is irresponsible to say that I deliberately misled the
American people when it came to the very same intelligence they looked
at, and came to the -- many of them came to the same conclusion I did.
Listen, I -- patriotic as heck to disagree with the President. It
doesn't bother me. What bothers me is when people are irresponsibly
using their positions and playing politics. That's exactly what is
taking place in America.

PRESIDENT ROH: We'd like to take another question for President
Bush, please. Another question for President Bush from a U.S.
journalist, please.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Your name is not --

Q Oh, I'm sorry.

PRESIDENT BUSH: You can go ahead and grab the mike if you want to.
(Laughter.) But I didn't know you were called Caren.

Q I didn't hear a name.

Q Thank you, sir. The North Koreans have said they don't
believe the agreement they signed in September binds them to give up
nuclear weapons before they get any assistance.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Before getting assistance -- yes.

Q Yes. Are you willing to give them assistance first?

And, President Roh, your country gives a lot of assistance to North
Korea already. Does that put your approach at odds with the approach of
the U.S.?

PRESIDENT BUSH: The issue really is the light-water reactor. Our
position is, is that we'll consider the light-water reactor at the
appropriate time. The appropriate time is after they have verifiably
given up their nuclear weapons and/or programs.

PRESIDENT ROH: Next, from KBS. Please ask your question.

Q I have two questions to President to President Roh. First,
with regard to human rights in North Korea, I do understand that the
third committee of the United Nations will be putting the resolution on
the North Korean human rights to vote. I would like to ask about
reports that there are differences in opinions between you and President
Bush with regard to North Korean human rights issues. I'd like to ask
what was the discussion between you in today's meeting. And I'd also
like to ask President Roh about our principles on voting in the United
Nations on this resolution.

And second, in the last meeting between you and President Bush,
President Bush mentioned Mr. Kim Jong-il, and it was also -- some
analysts also said that that summit meeting between you and President
Bush helped the discussions in the six-party talks. This summit meeting
between you and President Bush is being held in the recess period of the
fifth six-party talks. I'd like to ask if you think that this summit
meeting today, do you have any message to the six-party talks and North
Korea?

PRESIDENT ROH: I see that the U.S. journalists are just asking one
question to President Bush, but we're taking two questions from our
journalists right now.

With regard to the human rights issue in North Korea, now, human
rights is universal value of humankind. It's something that is very
valuable. And Korea has a very proactive position when it comes to
human rights issues in the world. But between the two Koreas, we have
very many important issues that we have to solve politically and we
always have to take into consideration the status of the relationship
between the two Koreas. And that is what I have to say about the North
Korean nuclear -- the North Korean human rights issue.

And I do believe that during President Lincoln's term in office,
people were always talking about the slavery and President Lincoln was
always attacked about not doing anything for slavery, to release the
slaves. And I do understand that President Lincoln was quite slow in
liberating the slaves in the United States. And this was because the
President, if he took the lead in this issue, he thought that America
would be divided in opinion, and this would be very serious. In
reality, the Civil War did take place, and because of this issue of
slaves, there was a situation where the United States was in jeopardy,
and because of that, he had to go through a process to ensure that the
country would stay together.

President Lincoln's first priority was unity among the states of
America, and in this large framework of unity, he pursued his policy to
free the slaves in the United States. As a result, before the end of
the Civil War in the United States, I do understand that President
Lincoln was able to free all the slaves in America, and they were
actually -- and many people went into the army, many of the slaves,
former slaves went into the army and fought for President Lincoln.

And this evaluation of President Lincoln's policies was carried out
actually 11 years after President Lincoln's death by a scholar who was
looking into the situation of the slaves in the United States. I think
that this is quite similar to the position that we are taking when it
comes to North Korean human rights issues.

And your second question -- what was it again, please, after human
rights?

Q -- (inaudible) --

PRESIDENT ROH: As for the North Korean nuclear issue, President
Bush and I engaged in a lengthy discussion on that issue. And the
contents of the discussion were basically that we agreed on the
fundamental principles when it came to the North Korean nuclear issue.
And in the process of the six-party talks, how North Korea would act,
the tactics of North Korea when it came to the details, we had some
ideas to exchange, and because of that, the discussion of the North
Korean nuclear issue was quite lengthy.

But I must say that we do not have any differing opinions on this.
We are basically looking to resolve this North Korean nuclear issue, and
we are exploring for ways that we can resolve this issue. We have no
disagreement at all that this issue must be resolved. And in
understanding the attitude of North Korea, I do believe that we were
able to share a recognition on North Korea's attitude in this whole
process.

And with regard to this issue, the authorities of both side, Korea
and the United States, must work closely in cooperation and consult with
each other. And we agreed that we need to have -- share an agreement if
we want the whole process to succeed. And overall, this North Korean
nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully within the framework of the
six-party talks. And we were quite optimistic that it would be able to
be resolved in the framework of the six-party talks.

If I just add one more point. The six-party talks, yes, definitely
it is a difficult task to accomplish. But the United States, when it
looks at Northeast Asia, the Korean Peninsula, the North Korean nuclear
issue, it has many policies. But I do believe that these policies are
some of the United States most successful policies, indeed.

And here in Korea, as well, the inter-Korean relations are very
stable, indeed. And in the process of resolving this North Korean
nuclear issue, once again I do believe that we are in close cooperation
with the United States, and we have this framework of the six-party
talks. And this is a framework that includes all the members of the
Northeast Asian community. And we are responding to the North Korean
nuclear issue together. So I think that we are holding dialogue on a
very stable foundation.

Of course, North Korea is not someone that we can very easily
engage in discussion and dialogue with. North Korea probably has its
own very complex attitudes and positions. But this has always been the
case with North Korea. And in our process of engaging in dialogue with
North Korea, I think that we have a most strategic and solid foundation
of dialogue that we have ever had. Therefore, once again, when it comes
to the United States' Northeast Asia policies, I think that they are in
a very good direction, indeed. And that was what I did mention during
our talks. And when I first met with President Bush, I asked him to
also listen to opinions that things were going well in Northeast Asia,
that things would go well in Northeast Asia, as well.

Thank you very much. And this concludes today's joint press
conference.